NEWARK -- Taylor Hall missed his 14th game of the season Monday night, staying in New Jersey while the Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 in their first game after their bye week and All-Star Break. He’ll miss the next one Thursday against the Rangers too. And probably the one after that.

Hall is still rehabbing from an unknown lower-body injury and the club is still not releasing any specific injury information on their star left wing. He’s not yet skating every day, which leads one to believe that he’s not close to making a return. And the fans are understandably frustrated, considering the reigning Hart Trophy winner’s injury was initially considered day-to-day.

New Jersey had hoped he could return for the NHL All-Star Game, but it was his linemate Kyle Palmieri who replaced him on the roster. It’s now clear the nagging injury is much worse than what the team thought when the injury first occurred. With the Devils currently down near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, it begs the question of whether or not it’s worth bringing Hall back this season.

Hall continues to progress toward a return with a set rehab plan that has him skating on some days and working out off of the ice on other days. He did not skate Tuesday, but Hynes warned against reading something more into that.

“He’s not on this skating every day type of “plan,” he’s on a specific plan with our trainers,” Hynes said. “He skated the other day, he didn’t skate today. I don’t know what he’s doing tomorrow, I haven’t checked yet.”

There’s no doubt Hall’s presence has been missed. The top-line left wing, who has 11 goals and 26 assists to his name this season, is an influential playmaker who can play in all situations. He has been especially missed on the power play, where the Devils have struggled to generate offensive chances.

“When he’s out there he looks to attack every time,” power play quarterback Will Butcher said. “When he does that, it creates so much offense for us because guys can’t tell whether he’s going to shoot or he’s going to pass and it opens up lanes. When other guys like Palms or (Travis Zajac) or (Brian Boyle) are out there, they know where he’s going to go with the puck.”

However, the Devils know they can’t use Hall’s absence as an excuse.

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All the news about the New Jersey Devils, from training camp to the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs.

Sami Vatanen did not practice with the Devils on Tuesday, getting a day off for facial lacerations. Vatanen took an elbow from Derick Brassard in the third period of Monday’s win, smashing his face into the glass. He left to receive stitches and was held out of practice for precautionary reasons and evaluations.

Brassard was ejected from the game and given a five-minute elbowing major, but did not have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Ben Lovejoy (lower-body), Stefan Noesen (lower-body) and Joey Anderson (ankle surgery) all skated on Tuesday. Lovejoy and Noesen are still considered day-to-day.